At 11/9/09 04:21 PM, AlphaCentauri wrote: Does anyone have an invite to send? If so I'll PM you my Email address.

I think it may be about a week before anyone else gets invites. It seems it takes 2-5 days for your invite to go through and then about as long to get invites, or longer if google doesn't think they can handle more users. So far, no one new has had invites.

At 11/9/09 03:42 PM, hansari wrote:

At 11/9/09 02:46 PM, Elfer wrote: Unfortunately for proponents, it doesn't look like this one is going past the senate.

It passed...but if any changes were made in the Senate before it passed, then that means it has to go back to the House...again...

Eh, source?

At 11/9/09 02:23 PM, SuspiciousPenguin wrote: Finally got my invite thanks to citricsquid (YOU LEGEND) so i will start inviting. titch900@googlewave.com is the only google wave address you'll need this winter.....actually it's not get everyone else aswell.

Both of you guys are in the general wave. :)

At 11/9/09 01:09 PM, morefngdbs wrote: In my opinion, some cultures have 'values' that I personally find distasteful.
One of the muslim practices that I am very disturbed by , is the treating of women as 2nd class citzens.
Many muslim countries, it is impossible for a female to get an education, drive a car, own their own property !That is extremely fucked up.

Yeah, but it was only 100 years ago that women didn't have those rights here in America and in Europe and it isn't Islam that enforces those ideas. I'd argue that in many cases this is an old world vs new world transition that just hasn't happened everywhere yet and eventually will if there is enough social upheaval. Not every Islamic country follows strict shariah law, and both Christianity and Judaism have sects which are just as harsh if not more so. For instance, the Hasidic Jews believe in something called the voice of a woman which says that women should not sing in public or they will be enticing men into sexual thoughts. But, that's only Hasidic Jews. Reconstructionist, Reform Conservative, and Orthodox all have different values and expectations.

Its similar in the Muslim world. I've known several Muslims through out my life who simply do not follow those traditions.

I don't believe anyone from a culture like that should be able to bring that value to my country, Canada.

I'd agree. But don't let yourself make global generalizations due to a minority.

I also find the sharia law system that is operating in many countries that are not muslim, by people who are now citizens of that country to be wrong & l believe it should be outlawed & anyone found participating in it, needs to be brought before the courts & dealt with accordingly.
There is one rule of law in Canada & IMO everyone should be held up to that system...no other system should be allowed.

That's a different issue. If you have people breaking the laws of Canada to uphold their own brand of justice, then Canada needs to deal with that, but that is generally a cultural choice and not a religious one.

Another terrible system is the caste system seen in India as an example. Hindu's & others believe that some people are lower & have less worth than they themselves & they may believe they are under or of a lesser class than others. It has no place in Canada, it really IMO has no place anywhere. But these people carry their predjudices with them when they immigrate, & it needs to be stopped.

Again, these are cultural problems that go away with generations if you accept them into your community. Not everything is resolved easily, but you can't hate them all because of a few extremists.

But I see no reason that they shouldn't have to change...they came to our country, if you want to become a Canadian, you need to behave like the citizens of Canada do. Which means you have to be willing to make some changes.

I'd agree to a point and I think that point is the point at which you are forcing them to be something they aren't. If they aren't doing anything to specifically affect you, I say let them be. And if they are trying to change the government, its a democratic style government, let the majority rule.

Manford Steel Striker

Pretty fucking manly.

Also:

Imma Wrestle Bears

At 11/9/09 01:07 PM, hdxmike wrote: Yeah NG wave, maybe by then NG will be an internet super power and will be able to get some wave action integrated into NG, without the lag of course.

Personally i think NG is starting to feel a bit old , the content is great but the way its presented is pretty stale.

You're from 09, that's just a typical sentiment of getting used to things. I know, I know, there was this golden age and things happened and they'll never happen again, but that's just not the way it is. Pretty soon you'll notice all the cycles and you'll become embittered because you've seen 2 or 3 flash spam groups flood the portal or you've seen a n00b as the same question one too many times and then you'll either leave because the entire site got too lame or you'll realize you haven't been coming to newgrounds for the right reasons anymore and you'll revise why you do come and you'll back off of assuming things are old or whatever and you'll start appreciating content or contacts.

Honestly, that's what Newgrounds has content & contacts. If we couldn't share info and express opinions and develop and produce, this place wouldn't be a place, it'd be this static thing that occasionally changed.

At 11/9/09 12:54 PM, TheReno wrote: So gum, how goes the judging? Has anyone sent in their choices or is it still to early?

Its still to early, I'm beginning my judging in earnest this week.

This is just personal curiosity.

Newgrounds is an awesome site, but we all come here for different reasons and because of that I'm sure we all have different things we'd like to see happen. I'm curious as to what you like to see Newgrounds as in 5 10, or 15 years.

This isn't a feature request topic. If you ask for it, chances are, it'll only happen if it was going to happen anyway. I'm not staff, I'm a moderator who's just a user who can delete things. So, if you tell me you want flying hippos on the front page, I've got just as much power to make that happen as you do.

Anyways, my vision for what I'd like Newgrounds to become:

I'd love to see something that engineered to further develop communication & collaboration on all levels while giving individuals a little more control over how they present themselves. If you've ever been to source forge you'll have an idea of what I'm talking about, but that's only hinting at it.

I want to see an online publishing software website of sorts and I think Newgrounds is in the prime position to do it. You have a "Create Project" link in your user profile. It hooks you up with the ability to create forums, albums of art & music, scripts and the ability to upload a quantity of files. You have the capability to add users into your projects. You can put parts of your project into preview mode. And importantly, everything is versioned.

On the userpage, you'd have the capability to add more too it. I'm assuming the website is eventually going widescreen, and so there'd be a lot more room on your userpage. It'd be really cool if newgrounds opened up some space for developers to create "flash apps" which could interact or do something cool. They'd be like widgets you could put up on your site and there could even be a small portal for them. More importantly, you'd have the organizational capabilities you have in the projects here as well. You could create albums of any content on the site and write them up however you want.

If you like horror games, you're free to collect your favorites, review them and then people can play them right on your userpage. If you have a group of people that like that kind of stuff, they could team up as well.

In this vision, I've assumed the art portal obtained albums, that the audio portal became a little bit better, and that flash content was less about static pages and collections of those pages and became a bit more mobile and viral just in the site itself. Additionally, I'm assuming a writing portal exists in some format as well and that blogs are far more accessible and can host richer content or be grouped together as well.

As far as the front page. I wouln't change much. I'd make it go widescreen and then, I'd probably make the game & video sections verticle with art & writing just below them with hotlinks up above.

It might even be possible to embed a flash player on the front page which loads the selected movie so that you don't have to navigate away from the front page to view the submission. Something similar could happen with the portal where you have a listing of recent entries on the left and you view the actual movie on the right, vote & review and then just click the next movie you want. Sort of like the way frames used to work, but this would be more javascript intensive.

Finally, it would be awesome to see some wave integration. I think Wave is really going to be a huge deal and offers some really great features. Newgrounds might want to look into either emulating or setting up its own wave server for its developers.

I'll look into it later Pox, but I'm pretty sure there's a Roman record of the execution. The Romans did keep records, and Jews have made it their business to know some of the truth since we're accused occasionally of killing the man. So I'm pretty sure the guy existed, but its a known fact that the bible wasn't codified until about 200 years after he died.

Anyone feel comfortable codifying all of the folk stories from the early 1800s around a particularly popular persona as factual information? Probably not.

At 11/9/09 09:35 AM, hdxmike wrote: Sorry for the bump but i just got it like 5 mins ago so is there a NG wave yet or what ? i searched newgrounds but nothing

Its private, so you need to give me your google wave address to get in.

At 11/9/09 08:55 AM, amaterasu wrote: What were you expecting? These are probably the same idiots that sent waves of Japanese people to internment camps after the pearl harbor bombings.

The path to a Holocaust is paved with the demonetization of a culture for the illusion of security.

We will continue to use an 10 point scale with decimals, which you may multiply by 10 and have it be 100 point scale if you so choose. There is not enough differentiation on a 5 point scale or even a 10 point scale to determine winners. And I'm sorry if you dislike the system, but when you submitted your story you agree as specified in the contest page, to abide by our system for judging. If you dislike this you are free to not participate in the future. I regret to inform you that 5 point system would only worsen the situation.

I will, however, bring up the issue of a rubric again with my fellow judges. We have yet to establish one, though its been brought up before. If you would rather have us systematically grade your piece based on a small set of criteria rather than the wholeness of the final product, I can look into doing so and you can expect further numbers in the future.

Actually the amount of mercury in the shot is relatively equivalent the amount you ingest when you eat a piece of fish. So, no it won't kill you, and yes you should get it if you can.

@aviewaskewed - The prohibition, introduced by Democratic members, including Rep. Brad Ellsworth, D-Indiana, and Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Michigan, would exclude cases of rape, incest or if the mother's life is in danger.

Now, I am ok with not using public funds to fund the abortions even if I think its bad policy. But, this is the bit that gets me:

"and in the insurance "exchange" the bill would create"

The exchange is a place where PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES who have fulfilled the basic requirements for a plan come and offer their plans to PRIVATE CONSUMERS who use PRIVATE MONEY and now anyone who decides to get cheaper health care by going into the exchange system and actually competing can't use their own private plans for their own services. This is an infringements on the basic rights. It is a law that says you can't spend your own money and you can't provide this service on something that isn't outright illegal in this country.

While your main concerns are alleviated, I would hope more of you would be concerned about the tone this amendment takes as it is entirely clearly an infraction of both women's rights and others.

@shepherd aka Marie Antoinette

As easy as it is to say to poor people, "Then Let Them Eat Cake," I would remind you that revolutions are built on the dissatisfaction of the lower class and that while health care will not spawn a revolution in the now, following such guiding principles as you IDIOTICALLY propose (And I say Idiotically only because having been educated in the history of some of the largest mistakes in human history and thought by a PUBLIC school system and I have recognized your thought as being less than intelligent) will eventually lead us to a place where as a country we've lost everything.

If the poor can't afford anything and continue to grow and their ranks are swelled because healthcare which has been doubling in cost continues to do so, then I think you will find that the poor people of this nation who do not have adequate health care, but serve you your food, build your buildings, clean your streets and walk among you are the prime potential for injection of myriad of social disorders including plagues and more. Look at Michigan, specifically Detroit, the City that was powerful and didn't need to change and ignored its lower classes for the sake of a buck. MI is the yet to be fulfilled prophecy for our entire country with such a possibility. 30+ % unemployment, soaring crime rate, deteriorating constructs, brain drain galore, undervalued property (Some homes go for as little as $10,000, when in my neighborhood in PA they'd go for $125,000). I have family there and I know this.

If you can't see how such drastic costs from the healthcare system could drain our entire economy, you are blind. A majority of Conservatives recognize this as well, but unfortunately the Republicans need to be seen as saviors and couldn't possibly support anything or actually participate less they allow their adversaries a "victory" in the sands of time. Also, given that more than several politicians on both sides of the aisle have money from the very industry that is broken, there is little likelihood of even a Democratic party being able to do this correctly on their own.

I refuse to further acknowledge, beyond this paragraph, the posts of an individual who has repeatedly demonstrated his bigotry and disposition towards character attacks, and I think apologizing for him, while noble, does the community as a whole a disservice. Consider this an admonishment of the highest order unto that individual.

At 11/8/09 02:04 AM, gumOnShoe wrote: I think this was just the house though, again. We're still waiting on the Senate, right?

I'm fine with a majority of it, but apparently they added yet another restriction on abortion so that even private insurers can't pay for them??? WTF? How is that helpful in anyway whatsoever.

"he first amendment, introduced by anti-abortion Democrats, bans federal funds for abortion services in the public option and in the insurance "exchange" the bill would create. Its consideration was considered a big win for them and for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which used its power -- especially with conservative Democrats in swing congressional districts -- to help force other Democratic leaders to permit a vote that most of them oppose.
The prohibition, introduced by Democratic members, including Rep. Brad Ellsworth, D-Indiana, and Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Michigan, would exclude cases of rape, incest or if the mother's life is in danger."

Its the health care exchanges apparently. I hope that particular amendment gets repealed after the whole thing passes.

I think this was just the house though, again. We're still waiting on the Senate, right?

I'm fine with a majority of it, but apparently they added yet another restriction on abortion so that even private insurers can't pay for them??? WTF? How is that helpful in anyway whatsoever.

At 11/6/09 10:51 AM, Parnassus wrote: I got wave, add me.

connor.blount@gmail.com

added

http://www.newgrounds.com/lit/history.ht ml

At 11/6/09 09:54 AM, robin1232 wrote: did you invite me? I was unable to post at that time (banned) so I send you a pm, I also don't want my email published here

You were invited by either CitricSquid or Rohedin. There's haven't been processed yet as far as I know, but they should soon.

Updated the list of people to invite. We're still waiting, unfortunately, for other users who have come in to get invitations so that we can invite more people.

A bunch of my invites went through yesterday so I'd assume over the next few days the first batch of people we invited in this thread should get in.

At 11/6/09 07:58 AM, Elfer wrote: Judaism = you won't get into heaven, and this is KILLING your mother

Judaism doesn't specifically acknowledge the existence of heaven for everyone. "Going up" is only ever referenced 3 times in the Tanach, and there is nothing else on the subject. There's one reference to a possible resurrection of all Jews, but again there aren't any qualifiers on it.

Judaism is an Orthopraxy, and a majority of its laws and customs, as you have pointed out, are social constructs and are already found in government and other societies regardless of religion. Aside from a few stories where god "opens up the earth," "unleashes plagues," or "floods the world" (which he promised according to the story not to do again), there's very little reprisal for disobedience. And, perhaps even more uniquely, Judaism doesn't claim non-jews are responsible for anything. The reality is that while Judaism claims to be a monotheistic religion, it is really just a religion that sprang from the worshiping of a single god as the best god while acknowledging there might be others. As such, in almost all of the scripture a majority of the laws (neglecting those the scripture claims were given to Noah (a non-jew) only 9 (do not murder, etc)), only apply to Jews. It also entirely custom to reject people who want to convert. While there were ages where Jews did proselytize, its hardly the norm now and consequences aren't held out. Being a Jew is more of a burden than not being one and we look at it more as donning a responsibility.

All that said, every philosophy has people who indoctrinate others on some level. I only agree with Proteus that indoctrination shouldn't be used as an argument against. Not all indoctrination is bad. Not every religion leads to strife. And if there is an issue in an argument, indoctrination doesn't get to the root of the argument.

At 11/5/09 11:21 PM, Redface wrote:

At 11/5/09 09:20 PM, BrianEtrius wrote: I'm in support of this. Besides, with the holidays, I think a few of us would like some extra time because of IRL activities (GASP, REAL LIFE?).

I know not of this "real life" that you speak of, but I concur. If I may, I suggest we consolidate the December and January Contests.

It would actually be Nov & Dec at this point unless you all want a break. I'm fine with that too, but I think some of you probably are looking forward to writing or competing.

We could also maybe just do some sort of workshop or writing exercise instead of a full blown contest. :/

At 11/5/09 07:58 PM, Elfer wrote: Religion says "If you don't believe us on our word alone, you're going to burn for all eternity, so you'd better just believe what we say or else."

I hate it when people use religion as a synonym for Christianity. :/

At 11/4/09 09:40 PM, boloneyman wrote: Obviously off topic, but when when can we expect to see the November contest be put up?

WritersBlock had a great idea for a contest even though I haven't found the time to respond to him yet. But I'm worried about committing myself to another contest. What we could do, maybe is just have a year end contest and make it extend up till the first of next year since you've already lost a week in Nov.

If people are ok with that, I think I should be able to judge in Jan, you'd have more time to solidify and edit and revise, wink wink. We could see if a longer contest is a good or bad idea.

So, if any of you are really lucky, you should start getting in today or tomorrow. Otherwise, hopefully you'll all be in mid next week.

unless google decides to suck :D

At 11/5/09 01:28 AM, poxpower wrote:

At 11/4/09 08:44 AM, gumOnShoe wrote:

You can't test everything and people have to at some point take things on faith and become brain washed, or become indoctrinated. It is impossible not to have this happen to you.

There's a difference between being brainwashed and making assumptions.

Yes, an assumption you come to on your own and a brainwash is when you accept something that someone else tells you.

You're young, you're told gravity is a force that attracts things down, you assume this is true because things fall all the time, but you never verify the speed at which they fall, you grow up relying on the formulas you've never tested every time you get in an aircraft and you'll defend gravity to the death. I've not claimed Gravity does not exist. I'm just saying not everyone can be a scientist. Someone has to believe at some point. Clearly if someone told you that you were brainwashed over gravity, you'd have many logical arguments as to why gravity is legitimate if you took the time to research it. But a man naive in the scientific study of gravity has been brainwashed, and it was a good thing he was.

I don't see how praying should cost anyone money, let alone health insurance which other people pay into. If the religion wants to start some sort of religious health care insurance that people can buy into from that religion, that's fine, I don't see why tax payers should have to, and I don't see how this is entirely related to what you are saying either.

Prayer has its benefits, but that doesn't mean the state should be paying for it or encouraging it on any level.

Any e-mail will work, but you'll have to make a googlewave account either way which will also have tied to it every other google applciation under the sun including gmail.

We're starting to run low on invites, so when the ones we've already used get approved, then we'll be counting on all of you who get invites when you come in to invite a couple more ng users.

Just post here, I'll add you to the wave and you'll have a list of who is waiting for an invite.

A mask might do what you want... but you might also look into actionscript classes that are out there that can export whats on stage as a jpg... or something similar. I've never used flash for that.

At 11/4/09 12:47 PM, Cojones893 wrote: Do you know what Wave is? It's like saying "I'll upload my next game into an email or instant messenger".

Not quite. Its like uploading it to a forum which can replicate itself and for each forum each user has the ability to add more users to the forum.

What's more is that waves are searchable and you can make them public. So technically speaking you could have one wave designed to spawn other waves with games in them, as a sort of "wave factory" and then each wave would link back to the factory.

Additionally, you can embed any html, so if you can make a wave read only (coming eventually), you can embed advertisements, and if you can't you can do it in the flash anyway.

Its actually very different...

@OP: I think it's a good idea if a bunch of people are working on a project.

Yes, I would agree with this sentiment, though wave certainly isn't designed to accommodate projects yet like this yet. I imagine there will be similar applications in the future which use the wave api to allow everyone to simultaneously code and view changes.